The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-03-30
U. s. Court.

absent jurymen were fined $25 apiece
The court made the following charge:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY You
have been selected under the laws ofthe
United States and assigned to the duty
of enquiring into all the infractions OF
the penal statutes of the general govern
ment. Without your hearty co, cooperation
the powers of the Court are greatly
crippled, but with your cordial assistance
all the laws may be carried into effect.
It is earnestly hoped that You fully
realize the responsibility resting upon
you, and will enter upon your labors
with the fixed purpose to execute the
law in oil its points and bearings.
You are not required to enter into a
general investigation of all crimes which
may have been committed in this Dis
trict, but only to enquire into such Of.
fences as fall under the dennnciation Of
the penal laws of the United States
These form very small proportion Of
the long catalogue of crimes and mis-
demeanors, which the good of society re-
quires to be detected and punished; most
of which fall within the Jurisdiction Of
other tribunals and from YoGr vigilance
require no attention, But within the
limited scope Of your inquiries your
duties are as important to the welfare Of
society and the proper administration Of
the government, ~ those Of any similar
organization. The manner of your selec-
tion, your character as men, and your
position as citizens, all guarantee that
you will bring to the discharge of your
important functions the zeal, energy, and
ability which are 30 necessary to the sue
cessful result Of your lahors. The penal
statutes of the United States which are
most likely to fall within the range of
your inquiries are the following.
public lands, depredations on timber
lands, cutting or injuring unlawfully
trees on lands Of the government, false
swearing IN making proof of residence
and occupancy in entries under the home.
stead laws and under the act relating to
the culture of timber and the like.
FIFTH-EN REGARD TO THE INDIAN TRIBES
such as these: That agents and en-
ployees of the government shall not be
interested in Indian contracts, introduc
ing liquors into the Indian country or
selling liquor to Indians, receiving money
from Indians under prohibited contracts,
sending or carrying seditious messages to
Indians, unlawfully removing cattle from
the Indian country, trespassing " op the
reservations and many others.
SIXTH H.-oopNTERPEIFIN FORGING ETC.
Counterfeiting the current coin, counter
feiting National bank notes, and forging
letters patent, land warrants, deeds, &c.
SEvENTH.-ALL CRIMES committed with
in the territorial limits ofIndlan reserva-
tions military reservations, &c.
An exhaustive catalogue of the crimes
and misdemeanors within your province
Is not practicable within the limits of
charge from the court, and will not be
attempted. The able assistance of tie
United States district attorney will
render more particular reference to the
statutes unnecessary. The district at
torney will attend upon your SESSIONS
and will be present to aid you except
when YOU are deliberating upon the pro-
priety of finding q bill or taking a vote
thereon. You need not hesitate to call
upon him at any and all times, to aid
you with his advice, with every con1d-
ence in his ability and learning to coun-
sci you correctly, and his readiness and
willingness to further the objects of your
labo~s.
But there are several matters amongst
those mentioned which may demand
special attention. You shoul i give par
ticular attention to violation of the
postal laws. There is no department of
the government which comes into such
close contract with the people as the post
office department. Every citizen and
almost every inhabitant of the United
States has direct personal interest in
the successful operation and honest ad-
ministration of this great branch of the
government. Every robbery of the mails
and almost every embezzlement of funds
by post.ofiice officials or employees may
be regarded as personal injury to some
one o. all of the great body of citizens.
When we consider the magnitude of the
business of this department and the i'm
mense number of persons employed
therein, 1t is surprising that we find SO
few defalcations, entertainments and rob-
berries as arc reported from time to time
in the public prints. No doubt this is
due in great measure to the earnest
prosecution and to the sure and speedy
punishment of such crimes as do occur
under the postal laws.
The collection of the revenue is mat.
ter of the first Importance; for the gov.
ernment cannot he carried ON without
the funds derived from taxation in its
FIRsT.-vIoLATIoN OF THE POSTAL, LAWS.
such as robbery of the mails, embezzle-
ment of letters or tile contents thereof.
stealing, detaining or destroying news.
papers, injuring mail bags, stealing or
forging mail locks or keys, breaking into
and entering post-oifices, counterfeiting
postage stamps, sending letters through
the mails with intent to defraud, circulate
ing obscene matter through the mails,
and embez1iement of public funds be-
longing to the post-otiice department.
SEcoND.--yIoLATioN OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE LAWS. viz: selling liquors or
tobacco without license, rectifyipg or
manufacturing liquors without license,
aifixing limitations of stamps on packages
of distilled spirits, unlawful brewing,
illegal manufacture of tobacco, resisting
revenue officers in the discharge of their
duties and all such laws.
THIRD.-oFFENCEs AGAINST THE EIEc
TIVE FRANCHISE, such as preventing a
citizen from voting, intimidating voters
by bribery or threats, fraudulent voting
at elections for delegates to congress, con-
spiracy to prevent the support of any
candidate and the like.
FouRTH.-oFFENcEs AGAINST THE PRO-